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Become a Konvert in 2015 - Kondo thread 5. All welcome!

999 replies

PeoniesforMissAnnersley · 09/01/2015 12:51

Thought I better set this up when I realised I had inadvertently posted the 999th post on thread 4! Shock

Join us in purging our lives of things which do not bring joy and discover the wonder and magic of folding your knickers! Grin

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18
Iqueen · 17/01/2015 16:04

BrandNewIggi We are all unique, and our circumstances vary, so MKs list is based on what she considers the easiest to the most difficult categories.

To successfully complete the project we have to re-order sometimes, add in new categories or sub-categories, so that we tackle our clutter from oureasiest to hardest.

This way we build up our own intolerance to clutter and excess, which should firmly stick with us, when the project is completed.

I have several 'junk' drawers, dishes or pots throughout the house and I can't imagine going round the house collecting drawing pins, screws, foreign coins, etc etc!

When I come across these clutter containers, as I am working on a category (or cleaning afterwards!) I am just tipping them into a clutter-box and will sit and sort them later, taking each group of things to their homes and chucking the crap things that I can no longer identify or don't need.

I am about to fold my carrier bags! Aaaaaagh! A HUGE bage of flimsy carriers, a HUGE quantity of posh designer carriers (from my daughter!) and how did I get a HUGE quantity of BFL and Iceland thermo bags?

All the bags I use for shopping are already in my nice V&A shopping bag or 2 of the press-stud ones, in my handbag. I guess most of the folded ones will end up at the CS or in the clothes bank! Grin

One of the posh designer ones may be useful for baking trays - they are all strong enough! Yay. (Thanks Harrods, Karen Millen, Viyella, et al!)

Iqueen · 17/01/2015 16:15

Ohhelpohnoitsa Haha! I found 30 cream pillow slips. 30!!!

All my bedding is white - thanks to my 'posh' daughter! She passes on the duvet covers... but only once, the pillow cases??? Luckily, Oxford pillow slips go well with the duvet covers.

Just need to check the folding carrier bags vid before starting folding. (I should know this - my children used to do it with crisp packets. Hmm, need to kondo the last 2 packets of Xmas crisps.

lightningstrikes · 17/01/2015 17:13

Have spent the last few hours cleaning and re-organising the play room, mostly the the craft cupboard. It was all organised, but pens, etc had got out of control and lots of lost lids. I've tossed the junk, finally secured the cupboards to the wall so that they won't tip, and cleaned and tidied it all. I'm completely shattered. I do have two boxes of outgrown toys for our local preschool, which makes me feel good about getting shot of good quality items quickly!

I agree with PP, if you don't have time to read the book, you really don't have time for this process at this point in your life. It does take time and consideration. It also feels great and, so far, has been really easy to maintain. I no longer feel so overwhelmed in my own home.

misscph1973 · 17/01/2015 17:13

Iqueen, I already read a lot of parenting books, I'm not lacking in that department. I have also read many of the parenting books that my mum gave me. But some of them just have titles that make me see red. I am generally quite happy to take advice from my mum about childrearing, and I also often find myself doing what she was doing and appreciating that she did things that way with me.

I went on 2 family walks today as the weather was so lovely. I also kondoed the garden a bit (raked the lawn, it was full of straw from the rabbit cages, swept the patio), and I made sure I appreciated my efforts and the result although it obviously didn't transform the garden into a magazine cover. I think FlyLady is very right when she says that badly done housework is better tahn no housework and that we shouldn't let our prefectionism stand in our way of getting things done.

Now doing a bit of work and looking forward to DH's lamb shanks in the slow cooker - the house smells so good! I think it was Nigella Lawson who said that a house should smell of home cooked food, not plug-in supermarket fragrance ;)

BrandNewIggi · 17/01/2015 17:53

Who needs parenting books when you've got mumsnet? Wink
In all seriousness actually, this site gives me more support than all my books put together.

awfulomission · 17/01/2015 17:56

I've just started reading the book.

It's making me cry a bit actually, I'm finding it a bit emotional.

I intend to finish the book before starting the process.

Is this right? Does anyone have any tips for me?

awfulomission · 17/01/2015 17:57

I am of a depressive nature and work is particularly hard at the moment. Maybe that's the reason for the tears too!

Tommetipsy · 17/01/2015 18:01

Wow this thread moves fast. Just catching up while the kids veg out with some tv. They have both been at their dance classes today so they are worn out.

DH has agreed to go through his paperwork tonight. I need him to do this so I can clear the billy bookcase in his office to use to store all the cables/chargers from our cameras, phones etc. He's been stalling me for ages on this as I think he is a bit embarassed at the amount there is as well as the mess.

He was self employed for a couple of years so we do need to keep a lot of this paperwork but its not needed everyday so my plan is to archive previous tax years in the loft.

I hope too to get rid of the filing cabinet in the office (it's a tiny room) so it will feel more spacious with less furniture.

Ohhelpohnoitsa · 17/01/2015 18:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Violettatrump · 17/01/2015 18:05

Bringmejoy please could you post some clothes bins for profit links. About 1/5 of our stuff goes there, 1/5 directly to friends and 3/5 to charity shops.

Violettatrump · 17/01/2015 18:07

Sorry just seen that you've posted links Smile thNks

HermioneGrangerHair · 17/01/2015 18:15

Mission - I had a bit of a cry after sorting my wardrobe, in a bit of a "why couldn't I do this for myself sooner?" sort of way. It can be a bit emotional, but if you can do something, just a little bit at a time to start with, I reckon it'll be good for your head.

Ohhelp - I also see iqueen as our virtual matriarch. Grin

awfulomission · 17/01/2015 18:19

That's good to hear. We're clean but cluttered and the stuff has to GO!

FizzyBubbly · 17/01/2015 18:21

Awfulomission, I have a very depressive nature too and am currently receiving counselling for it. Saw my counsellor on Wednesday and she was shocked at how much I've improved and it's all been since I started Kondoing! Hopefully like me you'll find the whole process very cleansing and it also gives a real sense of achievement and purpose, something of which my life is definitely lacking at the moment. I suggest reading the book first and I hope it helps you as much as it's helped me

HermioneGrangerHair · 17/01/2015 18:22

Oh, update from me...

I've got a friend staying this weekend, so not exactly killing myself to find time to Kondo, but the book boxes (20) were delivered this morning, and I packed four of them while my friend had a shower. Not sure whether or not there are enough for all the books, but they'll get us a big chunk of the way there.

And my friend cheered me up by saying she and her husband had been talking about how great my house looks at the moment. I'm really not doing this for other people, but it is becoming a nice place to be.

HermioneGrangerHair · 17/01/2015 18:24

Fizzy, that's lovely Smile

Violettatrump · 17/01/2015 18:24

Right, I've completely gone off clothes banks now. How disappointing as they were so convenient.

Kaf I'm a huge procrastinator but the easy to tidy/seeing less clutter factor has carried me through. I was the hamster on the wheel but kondoing has changed all that. I never believed it could be possible!

MangoBiscuit · 17/01/2015 18:33

I think we must be lucky as there's an Air Ambulance bin near us. It is in a car park, but not a major one, and it's hidden by trees. I spoke to someone at the charity and checked it's actually theirs a couple of months back (just by chance, was calling for something else) apparently it does quite well there.

GatoradeMeBitch · 17/01/2015 18:39

Book boxes Hermione? Is there a place that will send boxes to collect your old books in? (Sorry, I don't manage to read all the thread because it moves quite fast!)

I'm feeling a bit sad this evening. My foster cat got adopted today. I loved her, and I'm really missing her at the moment. But the couple who have her are going to love her to bits so I'm also happy for her. I'm going to press on with books for an hour or two tonight.

If anyone is looking for video inspiration, PinkSoFoxy on YouTube did a whole series on decluttering her makeup and clothes. I think it started with this one on decluttering her wardrobe then the series (less stuff, less stress) starts from here

Violettatrump · 17/01/2015 18:45

Fizzy, yes totally having a clutter free and organised house is helping me feel stronger. Clutter has always been a huge hurdle for me and daily chores felt like swimming in treacle. I'm now thinking if I can conquer this, I can do other things

Violettatrump · 17/01/2015 18:48

Hermionie - 'why didn't i do this before?' - that's what I've been saying to all my friends! The truth is I had no idea how to

GatoradeMeBitch · 17/01/2015 18:48

I'm disappointed to hear that the Salvation Army clothes bank donations don't all get donated. Now I'm feeling slightly miffed that I gave about 12 bags of stuff to them, I wish I'd sent it direct to a charity shop instead. Oh well, I'll know better for round two...

HermioneGrangerHair · 17/01/2015 18:48

Sorry, Gatorade, no... I'm donating a load of books to the library, but the logistics of getting them there was shaping up to be a barrier, so in the name of keeping the momentum, I bought in a load of book-sized boxes from a removals company. Could have lived without the expense, but I think it'll be worth it.

Elliptic5 · 17/01/2015 18:49

Still waiting for the book from the library, however decided to clear out my clothes. Got rid of 6 summer skirts from over 5 years ago that I kept putting away every other time I went through the wardrobe thinking I will wear them next summer (never did). I now have no summer skirts Grin.
Also got rid of 4 stretched and useless bras I haven't worn for a year - they weren't cheap but I'm not sure what I expected to do with them miraculously go back to being wearable maybe. My underwear drawer is now remarkably tidy.

Pointlessfan · 17/01/2015 18:57

Arrggh! This afternoon we kondoed our wedding cards and found a £20 M&S gift card that expired 2 months ago. We could really use the money at the moment too, this is why we need to be more organized!
Also did university photos which was easier than expected as they were mostly the same few people looking drunk in different scenarios so I kept the ones from special occasions and where I look nice!
It's definitely catching though, high spot of the day was DH finally buying some new jeans to replace his tatty old ones. He's been looking for some for ages and today he found them - the perfect fit and colour. He said he was pleased he waited to find the ones he loves as he feels good in them. He'd never have done that before, he'd have bought the same stuff he always gets without trying them on and then complained about them for months on end!